ABRIDGED RULES 

GUIDING BODIES

United States Police and Fire Championships (USPFC)
8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., #107. San Diego CA  92111
Tele.  858-571-9919  FAX:  858-571-1641  E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

National Rifle Association (NRA) PPC Rules
11250 Waples Mill Rd.
Fairfax, VA  22030
Tele: (317) 261-0500

U.S.A. Track & Field, 132 E. Washington St, Suite 800, Indianapolis, IN  46225
Tele: 317.261.0500 FAX: 317.261.0513  website: www.usatf.org

PLEASE NOTE: USPFC RULES SUPERSEDE NRA AND THE U.S.A. TRACK AND FIELD RULES.

EVENTS

This sport combines two events; Pistol and Cross Country Running.

Men's and Women's Individual events will be offered in the following age categories:

 Open:  18 - 29  
 Senior: 30 - 39   
 Master: 40 - 49  
 Grand Master: 50+
  
2-person Team event will be offered in the following age categories:

 Open: 18 - 39   Master: 40+

Competitors must enter in the Individual competition to be eligible for the Team event.

SEQUENCE OF RUNNING AND SHOOTING

1. Start
2. One mile run
3. 12 rounds standing without support (Body target)
4. One mile run
5. 12 rounds standing without support (Body target)
6. One mile run
7. Finish
  Total course:  3 miles and 24 rounds.

FACILITY

Pistol Range:
The pistol range shall have a U.S.A. Track & Field certified, one mile Cross Country course directly attached to it.

All firing shall be done from the 25 yard/meter line of a P.P.C. or from a standard 25 yard/meter pistol range.  The range shall have no less than ten (10) firing positions.  The range shall be reserved for no less than one day per 100 competitors.

One mile cross country course:
The course may be run on street pavement and may be hilly with mud, sand, dirt or other hazards and shall be approved in advance of the competition by the USPFC Director in Charge of the Biathlon.

Starting Area:
The starting area and finish area of the running course shall be at the pistol range and shall be laid out in as close proximity as possible to the range so that it is easily visible to competitors and officials.

Starting Line:
The starting line shall have a straight line at right angles to the running direction.  The starting line for a group start must be placed outside the pistol range so that all competitors have to run the same distance.

The Half Mile Mark:
The half mile mark on the running course shall be well marked.

Finish Line:
The finish line shall be at the opposite side of the pistol range from where the start of the running portion of the Biathlon began.

Finish Chute:
The finish chute shall be placed at an angle not to interfere with competitors who have not finished their sequence of running and shooting.  The finish chute shall be no less than thirty feet long and well marked.

Biathlon Target Description:

The USPFC Biathlon Pistol Target is a full torso silhouette, black in color. The actual target is a light colored area within the torso, shaped like a BRITISH CRICKET BAT.  This is a light colored body target, four (4) inches wide at the widest part, and 1 ¾ inches wide at the narrowest part, and is thirty (30) inches high. The thinnest portion of the target is in the head area.  In the center of the head area is an X-Ring, 1 ¾ inches wide.

You may obtain the USPFC targets from the Alco Target Company located at 2048 Central Avenue, Duarte,  California  91010.  (626) 358-4814.

COMPETITORS' SAFETY EQUIPMENT, EYE AND EAR PROTECTION

No competitor will be allowed on the firing range without ear and eye protection authorized by the head official.  Each competitor shall bring their own ear and eye protection and they shall be checked at the same time that their triggers are weighed by the head official.  Each competitor shall wear their ear and eye protectors during each twelve (12) shot phase of the shooting portion of the Biathlon.

Penalty time for not using ear and eye protection
If a competitor is found not wearing their ear and eye protectors during any portion of a shooting phase, they shall receive a sixty (60) second maximum penalty for each phase wherein the violation occurs.

COMPETITORS RUNNING GEAR

All competitors shall provide their own running gear.

BRACKETING

Point System Bracketing (Bracketing Rules).

SCORING

Placing Individual and Team Winners: The fastest overall elapsed time (after penalty and bonus time) in each category shall determine First through Third Place medals in both Individual and Team events.

Team:  Individual scores are used to determine team scores.

The team event shall consist of two persons.  Each team member must compete in the Individual portion of the Biathlon to be eligible for the team event.  The aggregate time of both team members will determine each team's placement, after penalty and bonus time.

Example of Team Scoring:

Jane Doe 21.51
John Doe 20.16
Total  41.67
Total time:  Forty-one (41) minutes and sixty-seconds.

Jim Jones 20.19
Jane Jones 20.06
Total  40.25
Total time:  Forty (40) minutes and twenty-five seconds.

First place - The Jones
Second place - The Does

Scoring Shooting Portion of the Biathlon:

* For each round outside of the body target, (light area, paddle shape) but still inside the torso area of the silhouette, (black area) a TEN (10) second penalty SHALL be added to the overall time.

* A round missing the BLACK AREA of the full silhouette OR an unaccountable round SHALL have a THIRTY (30) second penalty per round added to the overall time.

* For each round inside or breaking the line around the HEAD X-RING a THIRTY (30) second deduction SHALL be taken from the overall time.

SHOOTING PENALTIES AND BONUSES: See SHOOTING SEQUENCE.

GENERAL RULES

Disqualification:
A competitor who arrives late for his/her relay or after the event is over shall be disqualified, unless there is an open relay at a later time.  No extra relay shall be set up for late entries or arrivals.

FIREARM AND AMMUNITION SPECIFICATIONS

All competitors shall bring their own police service firearms and ammunition and shall be responsible for said items.  Any competitor who may have a questionable weapon or ammunition shall submit them to the head official prior to use.

FIREARM SPECIFICATIONS

The spirit of this event is that the weapons used are meant to be totally stock police duty firearms such as would be issued to a police recruit in the academy. IT IS NOT A COMPETITION FIREARM.

Pistols and revolvers used in this competition must be in compliance with NRA Police Pistol Combat Rules for stock semi-automatic pistols or service revolvers chambered to fire center-fire cartridges 9mm (.38) caliber or larger.

No external modifications are permitted.  No internal modifications may be used that would render the firearm less safe than originally designed by the manufacturer.  All standard safety features of the firearm must operate properly.  Specifically prohibited are full-length Bo-Mar type ribs on the slide, trigger shoes, any system of recoil control based on compensators, barrel venting or barrel porting.

The above prohibitions are to be broadly construed to the end of permitting only genuine Service Pistol and may be expanded to include other items not enumerated which are incompatible with a Service Pistol.

TRIGGERS:

When cocked for single action firing, the firing cycle must be completed in a single pull of the trigger in a normal manner.

Triggers shall be weighed and tagged by the Equipment Control Officer prior to the start of each competitor's relay.

AMMUNITION:

Ammunition shall be inspected by a referee.

Competitors may use factory or reloaded ammunition.  Only 9mm (.38) caliber or larger shall be used.  No high speed or magnum ammunition will be allowed.

Reloaded ammunition shall conform to the requirements for factory ammunition and be subject to a minimum power factor test.

RELOADED AMMUNITION SPECIFICATIONS:

* All ammunition fired shall meet or exceed the power factor as described when checked by chronograph using the formula:  bullet weight x muzzle velocity =  not less than 120,000.

* Any ammunition used shall be loaded within safe limitations for the handgun used.

* All ammunition fired by the competitor shall maintain identical bullet design, weight and velocity.

* Competitors' loads shall be tested by firing loads for revolvers through a six inch barrel revolver; loads for semi-automatics through a five inch barrel.  In the event that a test barrel for the caliber to be tested is not available, or the ammo fails to meet the power floor, then the loads will be tested through the competitors' pistol.

No re-fires will be allowed for defective guns or ammunition or for other malfunctions of the shooters' equipment.

Alibis:

THIS IS A NO ALIBI MATCH (such as misfires, malfunctions of the weapon or firing on the wrong target).

EXCEPTIONS:  If another competitor fires on your target, the line judge shall give you the lowest score.

Loaning equipment:  No competitor shall loan equipment if it will cause any type of delay.

SHOOTING SEQUENCE:

ALL COMPETITORS SHALL FIRE IN THIS SEQUENCE AND NO OTHER SEQUENCE.

FIRST PHASE:  TWELVE (12) ROUNDS:

A competitor SHALL load and fire six (6) rounds at the TARGET then reload with six (6) rounds and fire again.  After firing this phase, they SHALL return to the running course for their second mile run.

SECOND PHASE:  TWELVE (12) ROUNDS:

A competitor SHALL load and fire six (6) rounds at the TARGET then reload with six (6) rounds and fire again.  After firing this final phase they SHALL return to the running course for their third (3rd) and final mile run.

If a competitor fails to fire all (12) rounds of the FIRST or SECOND phase of the shooting sequence and leaves their firing position to start the next mile run, they may return to their firing position (except if they have run past the FIRST or LAST numbered target on the range).  If that happens they must continue on the running course and shall receive penalty time for the rounds left in the gun (fired or not fired) during each phase.

SHOOTING PHASE ONE:

Shooting one hand or two:  A competitor may shoot either way.

Shooting Stance:
All shots shall be fired from a standing position with both ARMS EXTENDED and NO support, EXCEPT if a competitor wishes to shoot one handed they then MAY rest one elbow against the stomach and chest cradling their shooting arm.

Penalty time for taking the wrong shooting stance:  If a competitor shoots from the wrong stance at any time during the shooting portion of the Biathlon, such as (prone, sitting, kneeling) or use of support other than their elbow while shooting one handed, they  SHALL receive a sixty (60) second penalty for EACH VIOLATION.

Loading and Unloading:
As a competitor arrives at the designated shooting position, he/she SHALL, WITHOUT COMMAND, and with total safety, with the barrel pointed down range at all times, load six (6) rounds and fire at will.  Upon completion of the first string of six (6) rounds, he/she again SHALL load with six (6) rounds and complete the second string.  This SHALL end the first phase of the shooting portion of the Biathlon.  At this time the competitor SHALL open the cylinder of their revolver, emptying the cases into a can or on a bench and with the barrel pointed down range and the cylinder open, he/she SHALL place the weapon on the bench or ground and WITHOUT COMMAND continue on the next one mile leg of competition.  If the competitor has a semi-automatic, he/she SHALL make sure the weapon is clear with the slide back and the magazine out and empty and placed on the bench or ground with the barrel down range and then continue on the next one mile leg.

SHOOTING PHASE TWO:

Loading and Unloading:
As a competitor returns to the designated shooting position for the second and final time, he/she SHALL WITHOUT COMMAND and with total safety load six (6) rounds.  Following all safety rules of PHASE ONE and all guidelines of the NRA he/she SHALL fire at will.  Upon completion of the first string of six (6) rounds, he/she again SHALL load six (6) rounds and complete the second string of fire.  After firing their final twelve (12) rounds and before returning to the final running phase of the Biathlon, all competitors SHALL adhere to all safety rules.

Penalty time for unsafe loading and unloading and/or the taking of shooting gear onto the running portion of the Biathlon:  If a competitor fails to adhere to any of the loading and unloading rules and/or takes shooting gear onto the running portion of the Biathlon such as ammo and/or speed loaders etc. a competitor SHALL receive a sixty (60) second penalty.  This SHALL be added to their overall time, for each violation.

Speed Loaders and Magazines:
Speed loaders may be used for revolvers and a person with a semi-auto may have extra loaded magazines at their shooting position.

All speed loaders and magazines SHALL have NO more than six (6) rounds in each at any one time.

Penalty time for speed loaders, magazines and hand loading:  If a competitor is found to have loaded or is loading more than six (6) rounds at any one time, a sixty (60) second penalty SHALL be added to their overall time for each violation.

Total Rounds Fired Per Competitor:
No competitor SHALL fire MORE OR LESS than twelve (12) rounds during each of the two phases of the shooting portion in the Biathlon.  No competitors shall have more than 24 rounds at their shooting position or on their person during any portion of their relay.

Penalty time for firing more or less rounds:  If a competitor fires more or less than twelve (12) rounds during each of the two phases of the shooting portion of the Biathlon, they SHALL have a sixty (60) second penalty added to their overall time for each phase.

Penalty time for missing rounds:  Each round that is unaccountable or a miss showing SHALL cause a thirty (30) second time penalty.

Bonus Time (Head X-Ring):  For each round entering the head x-ring, a competitor SHALL receive a thirty (30) second reduction from their overall time.

12/30/11